Free aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) by Cynthia Clement

across her lower lip. “I only want your happiness.”
    Without
another word, he walked to his bedroom and shut the door. Kimi sagged against
the table. She didn’t understand why he affected her so, but he did. Until she
knew, she would have to keep her distance from Niail. The sooner he left to
find his fellow Hunters, the better.
    Sleep
was a long time coming for Kimi. She tossed and turned, going over every
conversation she had had with Niail. Finally, exhaustion claimed her. The sound
of Wil’s voice woke her.
    He
sounded scared.
    It
was probably a nightmare. She pulled her clothes on and left her room. The
house was in darkness. Just as she entered Wil’s bedroom, the flash of
headlights shone through her front windows. Who would be driving at such a late
hour?
    “Another
bad dream?” She went to Wil and brushed his hair away from his forehead.
    Wil
nodded. “I want to sleep with you.”
    A
car door slammed and then there was a knock at her side door.
    “Someone’s
at the door.” Kimi pulled the blankets up around Wil’s chin. “When they leave,
I’ll come in for you.”
    She
went to the side door, but turned when she heard movement behind her. Wil was
shuffling out of his bedroom and headed for Niail’s room. She was about to stop
him when the banging on the door got louder.
     

Chapter 7
     
    He
awoke with a start. Kimi was talking to someone in the kitchen. He strained to listen,
but he did not recognize the voice. Niail’s ears were trained to pick up the
slightest of sounds. It was a man, but not Jake. His voice was a low murmur.
    He
moved to sit up, but stopped when a hand touched his arm. “I don’t think it’s
safe.”
    Niail
turned and saw the outline of Wil in the darkened room.
    “Why?”
    “Mom
has company.”
    Niail
grunted. “Why aren’t you in bed?”
    “I
had a nightmare and woke Mom up. There was a knock at the door so I came in
here.”
    Niail
eased his body into a sitting position. He had slept in his jeans, but his
shirt was on the end of the bed. He picked it up and shrugged into it.
    “It’s
cold in the chair.” Wil moved closer. “Can I get in with you?”
    Niail
did not know how to answer. He had never had someone ask to share his space. Perhaps
it was time he became comfortable with human customs. He moved over and patted
the bed.
    “Sure.”
    “Thanks.”
Wil gathered the covers around his shivering body. “Mom has been talking for
quite a while.”
    “Who
is it?”
    Wil
shrugged. “I was in here. I didn’t see them.”
    “Where
is your sister?”
    “She
sleeps through anything.” Wil’s voice was scornful.
    Niail
cursed silently. He should have heard the knock. In all of his years of
training and battle, he had never slept so soundly that outside noises hadn’t
woken him.
    He
had never let his guard down before. The family might be in serious danger
because of his mistake. He eased the covers away and moved to the edge of the
bed.
    “You
stay.”
    “Do
you need help?” Wil’s voice sounded small.
    Niail
stood. “I will make certain your mother is unharmed.”
    “Can
I come with you?”
    “No.”
He held up his hand. “Here you will be safe.”
    Wil
shrugged his shoulders. In the dim light from the clock, Niail could tell he
wasn’t happy with being left behind. It was for the best, though. If he had to
kill someone, he did not want the boy to see it. He was too young to be exposed
to violence.
    He
had been the same age as Wil when he had shot his first weapon. That was
different. He was a Hunter. He did not want the same life for Wil if there was
a choice.
    He
moved to the door.
    He
cracked it open and looked out.
    There
was a man dressed in faded denims and a dirty tee-shirt sitting at the table.
He had dark hair which hung in two braids on either side of his head. His elbows
rested on the kitchen table and he was leaning close to Kimi.
    Kimi
was focused on the stranger’s words. They were speaking in whispers, so Niail
tried to read their lips.